William Paul (10 June 1754 – 27 October 1802) was a minister of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

who was patriarch to a number of eminent Scottish ministers. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to King George III.

Life

He was born in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

on 10 June 1754 the son of Robert Paul and his wife Agnes Anderson. He studied at

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

first getting a degree in literature and philosophy then and gaining a masters degree (MA) in 1773 which looked at more theological issues. He then gained a position as private tutor to the family of David Leslie, 6th Earl of Leven, who lived in

Gayfield House Broughton () is an ancient feudal barony, today within the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. Ancient barony The feudal barony of Broughton in the 16th and 17th centuries was in the hands of the Bellenden family, who had made their money in the le ...

just east of

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Stree ...

and also had estates in Fife. During this period he also studied at Divinity Hall in Edinburgh. Through this connection (with the Earl as his patron) he was licensed to preach as a

minister by the Presbytery of

Cupar Cupar ( ; gd, Cùbar) is a town, former royal burgh and parish in Fife, Scotland. It lies between Dundee and Glenrothes. According to a 2011 population estimate, Cupar had a population around 9,000, making it the ninth-largest settlement in Fi ...

in September 1777. From 1777 until 1779 he served as an assistant at

St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh The Parish Church of St Cuthbert is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in central Edinburgh. Probably founded in the 7th century, the church once covered an extensive parish around the Old Town of Edinburgh, burgh of Edinburgh. The church' ...

. He was ordained in September 1779 in

Newbattle Newbattle (from Neubotle, i.e. new dwelling) is a village and civil parish in Midlothian, in the ancient Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Andrews, about seven miles from Edinburgh. There was an abbey there founded about 1140, being the second of t ...

Parish Church near Dalkeith. With King George III himself as patron he was presented to

and in March 1786 moved to a new role as collegiate minister there, with Sir

Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood Henry Moncreiff-Wellwood 8th Baronet of Tullibole FRSE (6 February 1750–9 August 1827) was both a baronet in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church ...

as first charge minister. In 1793 he was made Chaplain in Ordinary to the King. He died at the West Kirk Manse in Edinburgh on 27 October 1802. He is buried in the graveyard of St Cuthbert's. Several thousand attended his funeral, which was announced by handbill. The grave lies on the raised ground south-west of the church and was remodelled by his grandson James Balfour Paul around 1870 (replacing the original gravestone). His position at St Cuthbert's was filled by David Dickson.

Family

In April 1783 he married Susan Moncreiff (d.1828) daughter of Sir William Moncreiff and sister of Rev

is co-minister in St Cuthbert's. Their children included: *Katharine Paul (b.1784) died in infancy *Susan Paul (1795-1836) married Robert Tennant, a Glasgow merchant *William Paul (1786-1848) accountant *

Robert Paul Robert Paul (born June 2, 1937) is a Canadian former pair skater. He teamed up with Barbara Wagner in 1952. They became the 1960 Olympic champions, four-time World champions, and five-time Canadian national champions. After retiring from compe ...

(1788-1866) manager of the Commercial Bank *Agnes Paul (b.1790) *Henry Paul (1791-1860) manager of the City of Glasgow Bank *Archibald Paul (1792-1813) * Rev John Paul (1795-1873) minister of St Cuthbert's, Moderator in 1847 *Catherine Isabella Paul (1797-1884). Through the Balfours he was also related by his son's marriage to both the Balfours of Pilrig and the Stevenson engineer family including being great uncle to

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll a ...

Artistic recognition

He is one of the many caricatures included in John Kay's Portraits. Kay states it was drawn from memory, after Paul's death.

References

Citations

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Paul, William 1754 births 1802 deaths Clergy from Glasgow Alumni of the University of Glasgow 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland 19th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland